How are Seal Ring Grooves Machined?

Seal ring grooves are a critical feature in many oil and gas parts, and machining them requires tight tolerances and high surface quality. The high part value and complexity make machining security paramount. Adding to the challenge are the two commonly used difficult-to-machine materials, monolithic Inconel 718 and weld-overlayed Inconel 625.

Many traditional seal ring groove machining methods have poor machining security and slow down production. Another time-wasting method is a multi-pass approach that includes roughing and finishing sequences. The tools used are often time-consuming and vibration-prone single-point milling cutters or plunge milling cutters.